Christmas Through a Child's Eye

Something about the festive season has always had me in its thrall. I'm not really certain why; it just is. Looking back and seeing Christmas through a child's eye, I think Mamma always made sure that our Christmas celebrations were joyous. 

Being brought up in an Italian Catholic family, Christmas Eve began the festivities with Midnight Mass and then, yawning and feeling blessed, we would head home to open one present each. The next day would be the main attraction though, and as soon as my eyes were open, I would be scrambling out of bed and heading down to the Christmas tree to see what lay beneath.

The tearing open of presents always seemed to be over in a flash yet it was a heady swirl of anticipation, excited shrieks, ripping of paper, and catching our breaths, as my younger sister and I eagerly gazed at the revealed gift(s) in our busy hands. Even past the age of knowing that Santa wasn't the gift giver, we embraced the sentiment, and I think that enjoying Christmas through a child's eye has continued to imbue this time of year with that same romanticism.

Image above of Florence and me and the fairy garden.

Of course, my husband and I enjoyed these annual celebrations with our own two girls, and now, we are lucky enough to be able to celebrate it with our grandchildren.

The images of Florence and me aren't, of course, Christmas through a child's eye yet, that same magical mysticism is so evident on her gorgeous and still innocent face. This occasion occurred just a few months back, when we revealed a fairy garden that we had created at our house. With an old pink bathtub, some turned over plastic buckets and soil, my husband and I constructed the base upon which a fairyland could be established. 

And when our daughter brought Florence to see it, she too brought some fairy items to add to the design. Christmas had come early for both Florence and me!

Wouldn't it be wonderful if every month we could create something magical to recapture the innocence and sheer pleasure of those simple days? Far too soon, as our ages become double digits, the pressures start to set in. Soon, we allow ourselves to be beaten down by everyday life and compare ourselves to others, or people's thoughtless comments pierce our hearts and, oftentimes, self-preservation has to kick in so that we can slough away those uncomfortable feelings.

As we travel closer to the one day of the year where everyone is urged to celebrate peace and joy, regardless of religion, I hope that you too can find contentment in some form. Sometimes, we have to search for it, but as we keep getting told, if we can consider even the simplest of things, we can find an unexpected depth and meaning that engenders a kernel of peace that can blossom. So, take time out this Christmas just to be … give love and let yourself be loved.

See Christmas through a child’s eye so that you too can have a wonderful festive season and may your 2026 start out with much promise. #family #fairygarden #festive #christmas